Hydrodesulfurization of dibenzothiophene over alumina-supported nickel molybdenum phosphide catalysts

The activity of nickel molybdenum phosphide catalysts was studied for the hydrodesulfurization of dibenzothiophene at 573 K and total pressure of 2.0 MPa. The Al2O3-supported NiMo phosphide catalysts were prepared by successive and simultaneous methods. The effect of the reduction temperature on the catalyst activity was also studied. The simultaneous preparation was determined to be the best method for the preparation of the active supported catalyst for dibenzothiophene HDS. The 623 K-reduced catalyst had the highest HDS rate of the catalysts. Nickel migrated from the inside to the surface during the reaction and promoted the HDS activity. The active species in the dibenzothiophene HDS and the oxidation states of Mo, Ni and P in the catalyst before and after reaction and of S after the reaction were studied on the basis of an XPS analysis.